If I'm being honest, I never thought the "dated" pant trend that's reemerged would see the light of day again, but It girls have played a big part in the comeback. In fact, Charli xcx was recently spotted in Brooklyn wearing the exact pant trend; however, she made them look chic and modern. The trend in question? Cropped black pants. Yes, you read that right. The pop star is known for her cool, edgy style on and off the stage and red carpets, so seeing her wearing cropped pants was a bit surprising, yet her take on it was refreshing.
She made her cropped pants look much more 2026 with just a couple of basics: a simple white tank top and a pair of black leather pumps. She accessorized her look with a black Balenciaga Crush bag. Her outfit is simple and polished, and that’s exactly what it takes to make cropped black pants look more contemporary. There’s no fuss or overthinking—just basics.
If you’re ready to give cropped pants a try again, keep scrolling to recreate Charli xcx’s look.
Paige Lorenze has great taste. As the Founder and Creative Director of Dairy Boy and a Content Creator with over 2 million combined followers on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, she’s built an impressive personal brand grounded in individuality, authenticity, and stylish fashion and beauty picks. (Although her picturesque New England lifestyle doesn’t hurt either.)
If you’ve watched her YouTube vlogs for as long as I have, you’ll know she’s no stranger to a GRWM video. She often does her own makeup while chatting to the camera, whether it’s ahead of an important brand meeting or before supporting her fiancé, professional tennis player Tommy Paul, courtside at a Grand Slam. And because she has great taste, I’m always taking notes, ID’ing the specific products she uses and how she applies them.
If there’s one makeup product Lorenze seems to use most often, it’s Clinique’s cult-classic Almost There Lipstick ($25) in Black Honey. The singular, shape-shifting raisin shade has been around since 1971 (yep, that’s an impressive 55-year history), which is why it continues to transcend generational lines. A quick scroll through TikTok is all it takes to prove that it’s just as beloved by Baby Boomers as it is by Gen Z. Lorenze has been a fan of it for years. In fact, she was introduced to it by her mom years ago.
Cut to 2026, and she’s the face of Clinique’s new Black Honey campaign, The Difference Is You. It celebrates the enduring popularity of Black Honey, as well as Lorenze’s personal taste and organic love for the product. Ahead, I chat with Lorenze about all things beauty, including her formula for a quick 5-minute face, how she stays confident in the public eye, and what we can expect from her highly anticipated wedding.
Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
Clinique
Almost Lipstick - Black Honey
You’re a longtime, organic fan of Clinique’s Almost There Lipstick in Black Honey. It’s such an iconic product and collection. What do you love about it, and why do you keep coming back to it despite having tested so many beauty products over the years?
I love that you organically follow me because I’m sure you’ve seen me use it. It’s definitely been a staple of mine forever, so this campaign is beyond my wildest dreams. Originally, I stole it from my mom. My mom is very much a ‘no-makeup makeup’ girl, and I actually wear more makeup than her. When I stole it from her, I thought, ‘This is such a good product whether you’re not wearing makeup or you are wearing makeup.’ It was a fun entry into makeup because it’s hydrating and balmy, but it has color and is buildable. Now, it’s everywhere. I have one in my car, one in my purse, and one in my makeup bag.
Even if I’m not wearing makeup but want to look fresh and healthy, I’ll put it on. But if I want that perfect dark purpley shade of lip—which is honestly my lip color but better—I can layer it on with a lip liner. It’s very effortless but also very multifaceted. You can use it for so many different things.
I always say Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is one of the most versatile makeup products. Also, moms have the best beauty recommendations. They always have the simple, good things.
Yes, exactly. 100%.
Let’s say you’re short on time—you woke up late and have to be out of the house in five minutes or less. How are you using Almost Lipstick in Black Honey to create a quick makeup look?
I think doing your eyebrows, having a nice facial mist, and putting Almost Lipstick in Black Honey on your cheeks and lips is enough. If my eyebrows are brushed up, my skin is looking fresh, and I have Black Honey on, I feel like I’m good to go.
Do you have a favorite brow gel or face mist at the moment?
My favorite face mist… I feel like I use so many different ones. Honestly, I’ve been using Clinique’s Moisture Surge ($33) for years. It’s really, really good, and it’s nice because they have it in so many airports around the world. They usually have a Clinique in TSA, so I’ve bought Moisture Surge a million times while traveling.
I’ve actually been using a brow oil that’s meant for growth and fullness. I bought it at my local lash and brow place, and I’ve been using it to brush up my brows. I feel like it’s been making them look really healthy. People also use things like Vaseline and castor oil.
Clinique
Moisture Surge Face Spray Thirsty Skin Relief
Those are all good. Using a brow serum to brush up your brows is a good hack. It makes them look good while also giving them the growth benefits. Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey has a 55-year history, which is really impressive. What about it feels timeless to you?
I think the packaging feels really timeless. I think [Clinique’s] graphic identity and the way [the brand] has stayed true to itself are very authentic. I also love that it’s science-based and backed. Everyone feels comfortable using Clinique products because they’re universally known, loved, and have been around for so long.
Finally, I think it feels timeless to me because my mom used it, and because you can find it in so many places—at the airport, at the mall, or wherever you shop for beauty products. It’s accessible, which makes it feel classic and very American to me.
Speaking of timelessness, I feel like Dairy Boy captures a sense of timelessness in its design portfolio, and your home design and lifestyle content on YouTube does as well. How have your personal style and, especially, Dairy Boy’s brand identity evolved throughout the years? Do you intentionally try to capture that sense of timelessness?
Definitely. I think growing up in New England has given me so much source material to pull from and so many inspirational people to look to—whether that’s public figures, family members, women I grew up around, or just the people who shaped my taste over the years.
I feel like I was surrounded by so many beautiful properties. I rode horses a lot, spent a lot of time in Vermont, went to boarding school there, grew up going to Nantucket, and was born in Boston. I grew up all along the East Coast, and I’ve always seen the beauty in loving where you’re from and taking inspiration from those places.
I think the East Coast has a very classic, timeless sense of style that values things collected over time and things with history. Those are the things that inspire me a lot—in my brand, my home, and everything that I do.
I love that. It’s like that quote I always see: “You’re a collection of your favorite things.”
Yes, totally.
What’s next for Dairy Boy? Can we expect it to expand into any new categories, whether that’s home, lifestyle, or beauty?
We’ve been developing a perfume for about a year and a half, and I’m really excited about it and looking forward to launching it. I’m going to be wearing the scent on my wedding day, so that’s a category we’re really excited about.
That’s so exciting. Speaking of your wedding, I wanted to say congratulations. How have you approached the beauty element of the wedding? It can be a lot of pressure for people when they’re putting together their wedding look. Can you share any insight into the look you wanted to create or any inspiration you’ve drawn from?
That’s such a good question. I think because I’m both a creator and a consumer of content, I tried at the beginning of the wedding planning process—whether it was beauty or decor—to stay away from Pinterest. I think it’s good to collect a Pinterest mood board over the years, even before you’re engaged, of the things you love, and then put it away when it’s time to actually plan. I feel like I’ve seen enough. I’ve seen so many beautiful weddings and beautiful things, and I really wanted to put that mood board aside and create something that was completely ours.
It’s so easy now, with how many beautiful weddings you can find on Pinterest, not to create something that feels individual. I think the most special weddings, regardless of the beauty, the money, the dresses, or the looks, should just feel like the bride and groom. If you spend too much time looking at other people’s weddings, it won’t actually end up being a true reflection of the couple. That was challenging because there were so many decisions where I thought, “I would love to see how this looks, and I’m sure there’s a photo of it somewhere.”
I really tried to push myself with my dress, makeup look, and hair to do things that felt flattering to me and aligned with the things I know and love. I wanted to keep things simple, but also romantic and a little more whimsical. For the beauty side of things—from the skincare part of my wedding journey to my wedding makeup trial—I’ve just tried to keep things simple. I wanted to use the things I know and love and not try anything new.
That’s why working with Clinique around my wedding is such a dream. It’s also a sense of comfort on your wedding day to know that you’re using products you’ve already been using, that you love, and that you trust.
(Image credit: Clinique)
Absolutely. Wedding planning can be so overwhelming, and I think there are so many different avenues you can go down with beauty. I love the idea of keeping it simple and relying on your tried-and-true products to feel like yourself. I love your Pinterest hot take about having your board but not relying too heavily on it. Do you have any other wedding planning tips or tricks?
Yes. I would say if you’re going to spend money on anything, spend money on your planner. You cannot buy peace of mind. There’s no price on that. I would say cut back on other expensive things and invest in a good planner because if you can pass off your vision to someone who will execute it and you don’t have to micromanage, it allows you to enjoy this season of your life so much more.
Being a bride isn’t only about your wedding day. The entire year that you’re engaged—or for some people, multiple years—is such a beautiful season of life that you’ll hopefully never experience again. It’s so important to enjoy that process and not dread planning your wedding or feel like you have to micromanage every detail.
It’s universally known that brides get incredibly stressed during the year of their wedding. For me, my wedding planners were Easton Events, and they were the best of all time. They are expensive, but it was so worth it. They’re not just expensive because of the weddings they’ve done—they’re expensive because they have incredible organizational processes, detailed systems, programs, and technology they’ve invested in to make the wedding planning process easier for me and my entire family. That’s made a huge difference. Especially as a business owner, I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I’m sad that I won’t have meetings with them anymore because they’re so sharp.”
I can understand that. Peace of mind is the biggest thing. I want to know more about how you relate to Clinique’s The Difference Is You campaign. It celebrates individuality at its core. What does individuality mean to you, and how do you keep it central to everything you do—whether that’s content creation, Dairy Boy design, or your foundation? How do you celebrate your individuality?
I do that through my work. I love pouring myself into my work because, with owning a brand—especially a lifestyle brand—the more authentic and true to myself I’ve been, and the more I’ve gone back to my roots and stripped away any layers that weren’t me, the more I’ve been rewarded and the more I’ve found my community.
It’s really nice that, in my work, being authentic pays off. That’s been such a fun thing over the years. I love what I do for a living, and I feel like I’m able to be really self-expressive through that.
Totally. You’re in the public eye a lot as a businesswoman, brand founder, and content creator. What makes you feel confident, and what do you do to build your confidence on days when you might not be feeling your best?
I think confidence does come from within, but feeling and looking good and refreshed never hurts. If I’m not feeling my best, I’ll do an everything shower, get a facial, do my makeup and hair, and give myself a blowout. That usually helps a little bit.
I also spend time with my family, but I think that, for me, if I’m ever feeling off, it’s usually a sign that I’m not doing the things I love or spending enough time outdoors. It’s easy for me to recenter myself now that I live in Connecticut because I’m surrounded by so many of the things I love.
Speaking of Connecticut, since you moved back, has it influenced your beauty routine?
Yes, I would say everything is much simpler—my skincare routine, my beauty routine, everything in my life. I think that has contributed to my happiness.
Shop the Rest of the Clinique Black Honey Collection
Clinique
Quickliner for Lips Lip Liner - Black Honey
Clinique
Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss - Black Honey Pop
Clinique
Pop Lip + Cheek Oil - Black Honey
Clinique
Cheek Pop Powder Blush - Black Honey Pop
Clinique
High Impact Shadow Play Eye Shadow + Definer - Pink Honey + Black Honey
Clinique
The Best of Black Honey All About Shadow Palette
Clinique
High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner - Black
Clinique
High Impact Volumizing Mascara - Black Honey
Clinique
Color Rich Nail Polish in Black Honey
Clinique
All About Shadow Quad Eye Shadow Palette in Black Honey
Clinique
High Impact High-Fi Full Volume Mascara - Black Honey
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All summer long, we've been going on and on about beaded sandals, but what if I were to tell you that it was all to prime you for the main event: fall 2026's most anticipated shoe trend. It all started at Tory Burch's spring/summer 2026 show in New York way back in September of 2025. Inside a Brooklyn bank, the designer sent a slew of ladylike (with a twist) ensembles down the catwalk, many with beaded kitten heels on to complete the looks. We all zeroed in on them, but no one really talked about them beyond the immediate social posts that went live following the show. It wasn't until recently, when they arrived on the brand's new-arrivals page, that the buzz around them kicked back up. Now, they're almost completely sold out.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight )
Tory Burch spring/summer 2026
In the period between that show and the shoes reemerging, a slew of other, similar beaded pumps debuted, further driving attention for the elevated alternative to beaded sandals. At Prada's fall/winter 2026 show, beaded pumps and boots were the talk of Milan Fashion Week, showing up in bold color options, like pink, red, and chartreuse, and featuring other details, like dyed feathers. Tory Burch continued the trend by including an updated version of her S/S 26 pairs in her Resort 27 collection. And Dior's recent couture show, which debuted in July, likewise showcased beaded footwear by the House's esteemed shoe designer, Nina Christen. (You might recognize her name from her namesake brand, Christen, a favorite amongst industry fashion people.) Paris-based shoe and accessories brand CEECEE also got involved, designing a beaded slingback in a cool, playful multicolor style.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight )
When Matthieu Blazy's second Haute Couture show for Chanel also included a pair of embellished, beaded pumps (featuring a black dipped toe and a metallic heel), the whimsical shoe trend's fate was set in stone. Boring, basic footwear is officially being put on pause by fashion people everywhere. Instead, they're preparing for the beaded heels that will soon cause lines to form outside every major fashion house's boutiques.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight )
If you, like me, are a fan of the tee-and-jeans way of life, shop the beaded-heel selection below. It's the perfect shoe for easy dressers who still want their outfits to look stylized and intentional—no effort required.
Shop the beaded shoe trend:
Tory Burch
Beaded Pump
Tory Burch
Beaded Pump
Dries Van Noten
Embellished Mule Pump
For Love and Lemons
Elodie Floral Beaded Mule
dior
J'Adior Slingback Pump
chanel
Pumps
Dries Van Noten
Embellished Mule
Tory Burch
Bell Slingback
Prada
Crystalized Heel Pump
Valentino Garavani
Vlogo Signature Sequined Beaded Slingback Pumps
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It’s a fitting lede for a sartorial movement with a collegiate provenance, but a new chapter has been written into the annals of the enduring preppy fashion trend. This season, the scholarly archetypes that make up this mode of dressing, from gathered loafers to tailored blazers, are stepping off campus and onto the streets.
The defining summer look is wearing the same silhouette once beguiled by Patrick Bateman-types, just with the psychotic tendencies replaced with an insouciance and fluid ease. Think of it almost like the uniform of someone who graduated from a private university on the Upper East Side, took a gap year in Paris to discover themselves before returning to New York City with the fluid and artistic flair they absorbed whilst living in the French capital’s sixth arrondissement. Enter: The urban preppy fashion era.
Speaking to Brigitte Chartrand, the chief buying and merchandising officer of NET-A-PORTER, she explains this new wave is a “city-forward take on preppy dressing that feels effortless”. “Celine, Prada and Polo Ralph Lauren are the main references for this trend, and they have given preppy a refreshing feel with refined colour palettes, sports jackets and cable knits, and Versace also added touches of pastel to the trend too.”
This is something that Gab Waller, a leading fashion source who has secured nearly-impossible-to-track-down pieces for the likes of Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has noticed, too. “People are craving clothes that feel timeless and intentional rather than trend-driven,” she explains over email. “The difference is that no one is following the old rules anymore, and that’s what makes it feel fresh. Today, preppy is just as likely to be styled with streetwear, vintage finds, or a touch of grunge as it is with classic tailoring.
What’s clear is that people are losing connection to the scholarly origins of the trend, despite finding the effortlessly elegant staples of preppy fashion aspirational. Speaking on the specific rise of the urban preppy trend, the Australian-born, Los Angeles-based business owner explains that “Preppy style may have originated in Ivy League spheres, but the people wearing it now have little ties to these institutions,” Waller remarks.
“Brands have evolved alongside their customers, who are living in cities, building careers, going out, and constantly on the go. As a result, tailoring has become sharper, fabrics more refined, and the overall aesthetic has matured, transforming preppy from something that resembles a school uniform into a sophisticated wardrobe designed for contemporary adult life.”
As a result, this elevated interpretation has become a way to balance a contemporary, on-the-move lifestyle that comes with living in a major metropolis with the understated sophistication seen in heritage settings like grammar schools, private members' clubs and exclusive colleges. This trend “borrows the polish of traditional preppy but drops the costume-y feel and swaps it for something fresher,” Waller adds. “A silk scarf might be tied around the head instead of the neck, a great blazer could be worn slightly undone, with the sleeves pushed up and no tie, and loafers may be worn with intentionally visible socks that add contrast.”
What you won’t see as part of the urban preppy fashion trend, however, is anything that feels overly fussy, hackneyed or trite. (Chunky boat shoes and garishly striped rugby shirts, here's looking at you.) This trend is all about rendering core wardrobe staples with a fluid and casual sensibility. These are pieces that require very little thought to be pieced together into an ensemble because of how inherently versatile they are.
Relaxed shirting, delicate knitwear and soft jeans will always feel in place amongst one another, but there are several key pieces that encompass the urban preppy trend better than others. After all, this is clothing for the former bookworms who grew up to have careers at Gagosian and exclusively drink pét nat. Bourgeois, albeit bohemian, uncover the key staples of the movement that swiftly swept Manhattan and Paris below.
The 5 Key Staple Pieces of the Urban Preppy Fashion Trend
Style Notes: A core fixture in the wardrobes of Fred Astaire and Serge Gainsborough, it’s hard to believe how fast derby-mania has reached a mainstream audience. Of course, to someone who was a high achiever in their class and never wrote outside the margins, the polished appearance and soft shape will certainly earn this shoe trend a gold star.
A hybrid between a delicate ballet flat and a sturdy gentleman’s shoe, pair your derby shoes with V-neck sweaters rendered in vibrant secondary tones and cropped cigarette trousers.
Style Notes: A crucial part of the urban preppy trend is a focus on “versatile and elevated dressing”, explains Chartrand. These are pieces that can take you from an early morning coffee at Abeulo in Marylebone to an aperitivo hour at The Marlborough without having you feel out of place in either environment. Consequently, you need a practical carry-all to see you through.
The ludicrously capacious bag is synonymous with the urban preppy set, be it The Row’s Margaux or Manu Atelier Le Cambon. Most likely, you’ll find the Fara Homidi Face Compact, a La Bonne Brosse hairbrush and Bottega Veneta fragrance lurking around the bottom. To evoke the essence of Gretchen Wieners, who you know would be swapping her argyle jumpers and nova check minis for a pair of Saint Laurent loafers and Miu Miu polo, that’s why their bags are so big; they’re full of secrets.
Style Notes: For the uninitiated, the urban preppy fashion trend is being spearheaded by Michael Ryder, the newly appointed creative director for Celine. After cutting his teeth at the maison during Phoebe Philo’s tenure at the brand, he’s fused the American sportswear codes he developed during his time as lead designer of Polo Ralph Lauren with the artistically minimal roots of Celine for silhouettes that are quintessentially urban prep.
He’s to blame for the rise in derby shoes, ‘60s-inspired disc sunglasses and prints-maxxing silk scarves (more on that later). However, one of his biggest ‘isms’ has to be the oversized belt buckle. Slightly reminiscent of the logomania days of the 2010s, this trend takes a quieter approach to signalling designer labels, though it still holds a whimsical element, like it’s been pieced together by a teenager collecting trinkets for their charm bracelet. Saccharine and sleek, this style does the heavy lifting for you.
Shop the Trend:
CELINE
Maison Celine Belt
KHAITE
Keefe Leather Belt
MANGO
Rounded Buckle Leather Belt
4. Quarter-Zip Knits
(Image credit: Chanel)
Style Notes: It would be remiss to discuss the rise of the urban preppy fashion trend without mentioning Matthieu Blazy’s momentous Métiers d'art 2026 Collection for Chanel. In his sophomore collection for the brand, he made the quotidian setting of a downtown subway station the most glamorous place in the world with a cast of Manhattanites that represented the entire cross-section of city life. Mobsters! Waspy mothers! Columbia students!
One of the standout pieces was none other than the quarter-zip knit styled by Indian supermodel-on-the-rise Bhavitha Mandava. It’s this idea of rendering a truly mundane essential through the most opulent lens that summarises the essence of the urban preppy trend. Or, as Waller puts it, “details that show an understanding of traditional preppy style while giving it a fresh, more personal interpretation”.
Style Notes: If an image of a Dalmatian wrapped up in a triptych of printed silk hasn’t crossed your social media feeds in the days since Celine dropped its “Infinite Possibilities” campaign promoting its new collection of silk twill squares, then there’s still some learning to do about the rise of the urban preppy fashion trend.
A truly underrated accessory, it takes centre place in the wardrobes of the most casually chic dressers amongst us for the way it can instantly add dimension and intrigue to a trusted ensemble. With this, you’ll look like a member of Slim Aarons’s jet set who’s just returned to the city after a summer skipping around the Mediterranean.
Shop the Trend:
CELINE
Square in Silk Twill
Pucci
Occhi Silk Twill Scarf
Prada
Printed Silk Twill Scarf
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